Writer/director Taika Waititi reveals that he wants to see new characters and stories in the Star Wars universe. Although best known for directing films like Thor: Ragnarok, Jojo Rabbit, and the upcoming Thor: Love and Thunder, Waititi is no stranger to the Star Wars universe. He previously played droid IG-11 on The Mandalorian and is slated to write and direct his own currently untitled Star Wars movie. Waititi's project will mark the first Star Wars feature film since 2019's Star Wars: Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalker.
Since the release of Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope in 1977, most of the franchise's movies have focused on the Skywalker family, as well as various characters and plot threads that were first introduced in that film. Even though Disney's sequel trilogy introduced a handful of new characters, legacy figures like Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), Han Solo (Harrison Ford), and Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) all played pivotal roles in the story. Recently, Disney's Star Wars projects have taken the form of TV shows like The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett, and Obi-Wan Kenobi, but Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy recently clarified that more feature films are in the works, and that Waititi's Star Wars movie will be released in 2023.
In a new interview with GamesRadar, Waititi discusses what he hopes to accomplish with his Star Wars movie and expresses interest in telling new stories with new characters. He explains that, while he respects the elements of past Star Wars films, he wants to expand the universe and not have his film rely on calling back to things from the originals. Check out Waititi's full comment below:
Look, I think for the Star Wars universe to expand, it has to expand. I don't think that I'm any use in the Star Wars universe making a film where everyone's like, 'Oh great, well that's the blueprints to the Millennium Falcon, ah that's Chewbacca's grandmother.' That all stands alone, that's great, though I would like to take something new and create some new characters and just expand the world, otherwise it feels like it's a very small story.
Although there have been two live-action Star Wars spinoff films outside of the Skywalker Saga, Solo: A Star Wars Story and Rogue One, both movies ultimately still rely on elements or characters introduced in George Lucas' original trilogy. It's clear that, while Waititi recognizes the importance of the characters and stories in these films, he thinks it's time to move beyond them and give audiences something new. Many of the complaints levied at Disney's sequel trilogy called out the films' blatant fan service and unwillingness to commit to their new elements, something that Waititi seems intent to not repeat in his film.
Despite taking place in a vast universe with countless planets, species, and characters, Waititi's comment about the world of Star Wars potentially feeling small rings true. Although a Luke Skywalker appearance in The Mandalorian will always be exciting, Waititi's film represents an opportunity to finally introduce new characters for audiences to care about, opening the Star Wars universe and paving the way for an entirely new saga moving forward. It remains to be seen what shape the Waititi Star Wars movie's story will take, but fans will hopefully be treated to more information in the coming months.
Source: GamesRadar
